Report: Rising Optimism on Military Promotions
There was growing optimism on Wednesday on the controversial issue of military promotions amid efforts exerted by top officials to avert a showdown among rivals next week.
As Safir daily quoted sources as saying that the cabinet could convene on Thursday, a sign that the efforts aimed at resolving the promotions crisis have made progress.
Speaker Nabih Berri discussed the issue with Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun ahead of the national dialogue session on Tuesday.
Reports that a deal struck among top officials last week included the appointment of an Internal Security Forces chief has infuriated Aoun.
Despite efforts exerted by several officials to appease him by denying such reports, the cabinet has not yet met to approve the promotion of three senior army officers, among them Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, to the rank of major general.
Roukoz is the son-in-law of Aoun who wants to keep him in the military institution so that he reaches the post of the army leadership.
The promotion of the officer, who is set to retire on October 15, is rejected by several factions represented in the cabinet, including Defense Minister Samir Moqbel who is rejecting to sign any such decree under the request of former President Michel Suleiman.
Despite the optimism that the cabinet could convene to settle the issue, highly informed sources told As Safir that the “race against time has reached a sensitive stage.”
Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri or the Saudi leadership should mediate to convince Suleiman to facilitate the approval of such a decree, they said.
The sources warned that the government could collapse if the promotions do not take place before Roukoz' retirement.
G.K.
D.A.
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